Delhi Residents to Get Relief from Water Woes as New Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant Set to Begin Operations

In a major boost to Delhi’s water management, the Regha Gupta government has announced the construction of a state-of-the-art water treatment plant at Chandrawal, with a capacity of 105 million gallons per day (MGD) and a total investment of ₹599 crore. The plant is expected to become operational later this year, addressing water shortages and reducing wastage across the capital.

Chief Minister Regha Gupta, during a high-level review meeting of the Delhi Jal Board on Monday, emphasized that the project will significantly strengthen Delhi’s water supply system, particularly ahead of the summer season. Water Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh and senior officials were also present at the meeting.

The new Chandrawal plant will serve an area of approximately 92 square kilometers, covering nearly 6.2% of Delhi’s total area. The CM highlighted that the project will help minimize water leakage and technical losses, ensuring better quality and uninterrupted supply of clean water to residents.

Pipeline Upgrades to Complement Plant Operations

Under the project, pipelines supplying water to households will be upgraded at a cost of ₹1,331 crore. The upgrades cover nine assembly constituencies across West, East, and Central Chandrawal, including Karol Bagh, Civil Lines, Kamla Nagar, Malka Ganj, Shadipur, Patel Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Naraina, Jakhira, New Rajendra Nagar, Hindurao, Eidgah, Jhandewalan, RIZ Road, Ramleela Ground, and Subhash Park.

The modernization plan includes strengthening underground reservoirs (UGRs), installing water meters, preventing contamination, and establishing complaint resolution centers. It aims to reduce non-revenue water from 30–45% to below 15% within three years, ensuring more efficient water distribution. A 12-year maintenance agreement for the upgraded pipelines has also been planned.

A Long-Delayed Project Finally Gains Momentum

Originally approved in 2012, the Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant faced repeated delays due to tender cancellations, non-compliance with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) guidelines, and funding setbacks, which inflated the project cost by an additional ₹400 crore. The current government, in coordination with JICA and the central government, has resolved technical and funding challenges, accelerating the completion of the plant and associated water distribution projects.

Once operational, the Chandrawal plant will strengthen water supply for nearly 11% of Delhi’s population, covering high-density areas such as Model Town, Sadar Bazaar, Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal, Ballimaran, Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar, Rajendra Nagar, and R.K. Puram, many of which have long struggled with water pressure and supply issues.